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Clem7 traffic hits the 30,000 mark

Tony Moore

More than 31,000 vehicles used the troubled Clem7 toll-tunnel on Friday, the second day after tolls were slashed to $2.

It is the first time 30,000 vehicles have used the Clem7 tunnel since it opened but the figure is well below the 60,000 planned by tunnel operator RiverCity Motorway, but almost 5000 more than the June workday average.

RiverCity Motorway, who cut the toll mid-week after continuing low traffic figures, originally hoped the 30,000 figure would be reached by the end of a three-month lower toll trial in September.

A traffic source within Brisbane City Council said 31,027 vehicles used the Clem7 tunnel on Friday.

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River City Motorway CEO Flan Cleary announced a $2 toll from July 1 on June 28, telling reporters he hoped the $2 toll would attract 30,000 vehicles by the end of September.

The same point was made yesterday by RiverCity Motorway's communications manager Anthony Havers in announcing a 12.8 per cent increase in traffic on July 1 over the June workday traffic average of 25,192 vehicles.

“What we said was we would like to be attracting around 30,000 vehicles by the end of September,” he said.

“So that is a fairly positive start,” describing the first day figures for the lower tolls.

Commuters were set to be paying $4.28 for a car on the toll from July 1, but RiverCity Motorway slashed the toll mid-week, having an impact on their revenue, but driving traffic to the tunnel.

Meanwhile Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has told newspapers Brisbane City Council will use money from its marketing budget to offset the $2 million it will lose when the Go Between Bridge opens with a reduced toll on Monday morning.

Commuters in cars will pay a $1.50 toll until the end of the year, then $2 until July 2011, before it rises to $2.30.

Brisbane City Council now predicts 12,800 vehicles will use the Go-Between Bridge, below earlier predictions.

The official opening and market day on the Go-Between bridge is on Sunday from 9am.